Tech’s Brian Gregory: Not a hot guy, but he’ll bring the heat
There's work to be done. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
We’re human. We all do it. We watch the NCAA tournament and we’re smitten by the Hot Young Coach of Cinderella U. And — let’s be honest — it would have been more fun if the man behind the microphone Monday had been Shaka Smart, tapped to bring his VCU brand of giant-felling “havoc” to downtrodden Georgia Tech.
But the glow of March eventually fades, and even the hottest hottie has to go back to work. And sometimes hotness isn’t transferable. In 2007 Todd Lickliter left Butler after two Sweet 16 runs for the lure of Iowa’s bigger money and wider stage. He lasted three seasons. In 1999 Dan Monson exited Gonzaga after an appearance in the Elite Eight. He resigned from Minnesota in 2007, having never lifted the Gophers to the Big Dance.
Brian Gregory is neither hot nor all that young. (He’s 44.) He arrives at Tech having done good work at Dayton. Had he done great work there, he’d have been at a bigger job and therefore beyond the Jackets’ reach. Bear that in mind. Having to pay its former coach $7 million to leave, Tech couldn’t throw bags of money at his successor. It wasn’t shopping along Rodeo Drive. That said …
Tech didn’t need a hot coach. It needed a competent one. It found him.
Gregory wore the requisite pinstriped suit and gold tie at his introductory briefing, but at heart he’s no fashion plate. He’s a Chicago guy — “I eat Chicago hot dogs and Chicago pizza,” he said — who apprenticed in the toughest-minded program there is. At Michigan State he worked first for Jud Heathcote, who won an NCAA title with an oversize point guard from Lansing bearing the nickname Magic, and then for Tom Izzo, who took his championship with a bunch of guys from Flint.
Who’s hot? Who’s not? These aren’t questions the new Tech man ponders. He gets up and goes to work. He’ll hold individual instruction sessions Tuesday with players whose names he doesn’t yet know. “And they really will be individual instruction,” he said. “It’ll be me and whoever’s in the gym with me.”
For reasons unknown and perhaps unknowable, Tech basketball had lost its way. In this smallish man from Chicago, it has a guide. In his interview Thursday, Gregory sounded every note this search committee wanted to hear. Said Dan Radakovich, the athletic director: “He hit on all those things, and it wasn’t pre-scripted — the [need to embrace] former players, the academics, the responsibilities of our current players.”
Someone asked Gregory if Georgia Tech can make the Final Four. “They already have,” he said, not batting an eye. “That’s the first thing you have to ask: ‘Has it been done before? ‘ ”
Gregory sees Tech basketball not as some niche sport in the busy big city but in holistic terms — it’s a program with a past and a future, and it’s a vital part of the Institute and Atlanta. Even his critics in Dayton concede he was a pillar of both university and community, and that’s something this program had lost. People here stopped talking about Tech hoops, and not only because Tech stopped winning.
About winning: Is it fair to think Gregory will fare better in the ACC than he did in the Atlantic 10, where he didn’t win as big as Dayton fans thought he should? Certainly he’ll have access to better players here — even in its weakened state, Tech doesn’t carry the tag of “mid-major” — and if he fails it won’t be for lack of effort. “Nobody’s going to work harder than I will,” he said.
Work: It’s not a concept that connotes hotness. Heck, it sounds downright old-fashioned. But a program of such inherent resources doesn’t require a savior as much as a steward.
What’s the stock in trade of an Izzo team? The Princeton offense? Full-court pressure? No and no. Year upon year, the best thing Michigan State does is rebound, and rebounding is nine-tenths effort. Sometimes Izzo would break out shoulder pads and helmets to teach them ferocity. “Those days are long gone,” said Gregory, meaning the need for football gear. “But we emphasize rebounding. We get after it good.”
There are Tech fans who are disappointed by this hire. They shouldn’t be. After they watch this coach and his team play a couple of times, they won’t be. Gregory’s guys are going to get after it good.
By Mark Bradley
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181 comments Add your comment
Yellow Britches
March 29th, 2011
8:36 am
Mark, I heard something the other day and I would appreciate your take on it. Attendence at college basketball is down and has been trending down for several years. The explanation was that the NCAA tournament has actually gotten too big. It dwarfs the regular season. No one much cares who wins the regular season conference anymore. The conference tournaments matter because in many small or mid major conferences, a tournament championship is the only way to get to the big dance. We play an expander regular season just to see who doesn’t get an invite. College basketball has become similar to the NBA. Play 80 games to see which five teams don’t make the playoffs. I thought the insights were solid. You”?
GT
March 29th, 2011
8:57 am
I wonder if Dan Radakovich reached back to his LSU connections in this hire. LSU turned the football program around going after a MSU coach in that sport and the basketball up there is far more prominent. Also I wonder how much Cremins is in the background. Eddie Fogler was the guy South Carolina hired after Bobby did his famous u-turn. I am sure they are friend and probably who Cremins suggested as his replacement to South Carolina. I think they played against each other in ACC days or may have Frank McGuire in common. Cremins has just beaten Gregory in the NIT this year where Gregory was gracious enough to play on Cremins home court though he was the higher seed, and his court was being used by the NCAA.
Bulldog Joe
March 29th, 2011
9:00 am
Gregory may not light Tech’s fire, but he may be the second coming of Dwayne Morrison.
NYJacket
March 29th, 2011
9:01 am
As Mark said, we have ourselves a competent coach. Enough said.
Welcome aboard Coach Gregory.
Techster
March 29th, 2011
9:04 am
I’m not sure this hire is going to bring much enthusiasm to our Tickle Piles like I had hoped!!!
Hewitt Fan
March 29th, 2011
9:10 am
GT fans are of full of it, If Gregory graduates 100%, and fails to win, Mark Bradley will start posting replacements..And we all know GT fans worship Bradley…my wife is an GT alum, I am from Atlanta and you guys rather listen to a guy from Kentucky,who has no ties to the program at all..Bradley knows this was a horrible hire..Dayton fans are jumping for joy..
PawleysIslandJacket
March 29th, 2011
9:14 am
He has the “soft” skills. Be involved in the community, graduate some players, won’t cheat, represent the school well, and work hard. That said, Tech BB will remain mediocre and non competitive in the ACC. Dayton is glad to get rid of him as he cannot coach a lick and has a record that is sliding down. Just hope he has a short contract.
heartofdarkness
March 29th, 2011
9:19 am
This suggests to me that the Jackets will be looking to recruit in the Ohio-Michigan area in the future. Most college programs have an area outside their immediate vicinity, where they can consistently draw talented prospects. There are many attractions Tech can offer to high school athletes from this part of the midwest, and engineering and technical curricula may be seen as a positive.
Who care's?
March 29th, 2011
9:24 am
Why anyone would pay money or waste their time watching stupid basketball is beyond me.
Ping pong is more entertaining to watch.
collegeballfan
March 29th, 2011
9:29 am
A note on the value of rebounding. Pat Head put up a sign in the Tennessee locker room many years ago: “Scoring wins fans, defense wins games, rebounding wins championships.”
If this guy can get Tech to rebound they will win a few more games than in the past few years.
ATLER (ramblin wreck)
March 29th, 2011
9:35 am
VOTE MARK BRADLEY LOSER OF THE DECADE!!!!!!!!!
T3
March 29th, 2011
9:38 am
As someone who followed GT B-Ball since 1981, I’ll offer a few observations:
FIRST
I have 100% confidence that D-Rad will make good decisions in EVERY capacity.
So, to all the GT fans bemoaning the Gregory hire, MAN-UP already.
There is a reason D-Rad wears the BIG BOY pants, and gets paid the BIG BUCKS:
To make BETTER decisions than any hysterical fans could.
D-Rad KNOWS what he’s doing. Cant say that about his predecessor.
SECOND
It seems most of the criticism is coming from the YOUNGER fans,
who have NO IDEA what they’re talking about or how far the GT B-Ball program has come.
THIRD
Some have complained about giving a 6 year contract. WTH ??
GT is going to play essentially On-The-Road for the next 2 YEARS.
Gregory wont be on a HOME COURT for 2 solid years.
A 6 year contract is appropriate.
FOURTH
GT needs to lay a FOUNDATION for B-Ball success. BG is a step in that direction.
Programs like Duke, UNC, Indiana, Kentucky, Syracuse all have laid a FOUNDATION for B-Ball success.
GT can be that and more. This is where it begins.
FIFTH
One of my favorites scenes from The Untouchables is the raid on the Candaian border.
The stiff Canadian Mounty tells Elliottt Ness, “Mr. Ness, I do not APPROVE of your methods.”
Ness’s response is: “Oh yeh, well, you’re not from Chicago.”
MAN-UP loyal GT fans, cause for the next 6 years,
we’re going to do it…..”The Chicago Way.”
As a relative “veteran” of GT sports, I’m fired up.
JB
March 29th, 2011
9:40 am
Tech fans sound like us and our Bulldog football program. We think that every coach in the country would want the Georgia job. Not True. As Tech is not the most sought after Basketball job. Your history,likes ours, has lot’s of ups and downs. It’s the ACC and it’s tough, like SEC football is tough.
Hoop scoop: Gregory, Shumpert, Royal, Neal and Kennesaw | Mark Bradley
March 29th, 2011
10:13 am
[...] As regards the Hotness Factor: Had Gregory’s Dayton team beaten Richmond in the Atlantic 10 final, Gregory would have made [...]
UGA=YAWN
March 29th, 2011
10:33 am
Who is Mark Fox?
GT...let's wait and see
March 29th, 2011
10:51 am
I really can’t believe all these GT Fans are trashing this guy and he has yet to coach a game. Let’s Wait and See! Cmon give him a chance. So he’s not the hot young guy…but who’s to say (As the article does if you READ it) that the hot young guy would be any better! So chill…and back your new coach!
Welcome Coach BG!
UGA=YAWN
March 29th, 2011
10:55 am
Dude – and dudes! 44 is young.
deltaz
March 29th, 2011
11:17 am
COLD HARD FACT #1 Final regular season game,senior night March 2011,vaunted local recruit Chris Wright’s last game @UD Arena(seats 13,500) Dayton loses by 18 points to St. Louis,paper says team quit,fans boo as team leaves court @ halftime. Coach says team will learn from mistakes ,move on .
Veteran Fan
March 29th, 2011
11:17 am
Bulldog Joe, don’t forget Dwayne Morrison used to beat Georgia pretty often, back when they had all the local talent! And Hewitt Fan, No one treated Hewitt, Gani or Derrick badly as it is Tech tradition that even if the team is stinking up the place, you NEVER boo the team. Which made it more difficult to sit there and watch that particular team with top ten talent underachieve and only make the tournament with a gutty performance in the ACC tourney! Even that team with one of the best front lines in college basketball was outrebounded in key games! That is effort and that is on the coach! I know about the Celtics and the Dream and if those coaches did a better job of teaching defense and rebounding fundamentals and less recruiting from other AAU squads, they would produce great players instead of good players and Coach Hewitt would still have his position!
deltaz
March 29th, 2011
11:26 am
Cold Hard Fact #2:Chris Wright(Top Dayton recruit past 4 years) regressed in his senior year,Gregory failed miserably in the kids’s development, Chris has NBA dreams ,we’ll see but we fear he will be relegated to Europe or worse.
deltaz
March 29th, 2011
11:29 am
Cold Hard Fact #1: Senior night 2011,last home game for top recruit Chris Wright sold out arena(13,500) Dayton loses to St. Louis by 18 points. Fans boo team off floor @ halftime.
deltaz
March 29th, 2011
11:34 am
Cold Hard fact #3: Beware if Billy Schmidt is brought in as assistant coach(Gregory’s big man coach)Dayton centers avg. 4 points 3 rebounds per game last 5 years
Gregory Fan
March 29th, 2011
12:20 pm
What a great hire! He’ll perform far and away better that Phewitt ever did. If he doesn’t, then I can blame Mark Bradley, the GT fans, the GT alum, Duke, the Refs, the lighting, no home court, the AD, and the idiot known as Hewitt Fan! I love it.
Tech Hoops
March 29th, 2011
12:20 pm
No pressing in the ACC? Apparently the “basketball” fan doesn’t watch as much as he lets on. Or at least he doesn’t watch ACC ball. This guy will be good. I want to see crashing the boards and tough rebounding. I jut remember him having teams chucking it from the cheap seats. And we are loaded to do just that. He will impress next year, as he will get success sooner than expected I think
TC UD '81
March 29th, 2011
12:27 pm
Gregory is a good coach and he has passion. It was probably a good time to move on for him. The guy gets his teams to January with great records and then it’s hang on for dear life through the conference. The A-10 ain’t the ACC so it’s a much tougher job of course. He will be able to recruit better talent up and down the roster. I always thought that the defense was a bit slack but his Dayton teams had the capability to score better than most UD teams that I recall since 77-78. The trick always was to hold the lead.
Good luck to him and Tech. He will work hard so don’t worry about that.
john
March 29th, 2011
4:44 pm
Hewitt Fan, have you thought about getting restarted on your antipsychotic meds?! The only person that ran CPH out of Atlanta was him. Horrendous road record in a weakened ACC, continuous lack of toughness, poor fundamentals, never accepting responsibility for the numerous failures. The list goes on and on. You only have to look at one thing moron: even the students had lost faith in the program and stopped coming to games because of the dreadful performances. Doesnt mean CPH is a bad man. Just means he did a lousy job and everybody but you know it. Dont blame Mark. Place the blame where it lies–CPH
Ron
March 29th, 2011
7:55 pm
Mr. Bradley this was a good hire. i think he is a good coach. But Mr. Bradley like i told you before and i will say it again first of alll the great bobby cremins only won one acc regular season championship, paul hewitt went to the ncaa championship game had soild sucess. But these guys did not dominate in the acc or win alot of championships plus did not win on a regular basis. Coach gregory i believe will have sucess but will not win on a regular basis nor the championships. Mr. bradley i know and you know that coach gregory won’t win on a regular basis it’s a shame you wn’t admit because you know this as well as i do. Once again mr. bradley coach gregory will not get any calls on the road and at home he sure as heck won’t get none against duke they only way you beat duke is if you kick their tail you ain’t winning no close games against them nor get any calls against them, plus you got unc. Again mr. bradley this is a duke and unc league they get all the calls it ain’t happening and you know this man.
Ron
March 29th, 2011
7:59 pm
Like i said before mr. bradley coach hewitt and coach cremins got no calls and coach gregory aint getting none either. this is 1.duke and 2unc. that who win all the titles in the acc mr. bradley and they don’t have the best players every year so mr. bradley you know it’s about the calls they get.
UD fanz
March 29th, 2011
8:58 pm
UD’s AD is out in CA looking at St Mary’s coach…
Mo of the same
April 1st, 2011
9:18 pm
gregory will have trouble recruiting African-americans to tech. Ga Tech should have hired an African-american coach since most of the city and surrounding areas is African-american. He’ll last about 3 years then tech will have to pay millions more in buyout cash.
Unimpressed by Gregory, Tech fans? You could be Mizzou | Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
3:04 pm
[...] Gregory wasn’t an eye-popping hire, but he’s solid. I’m not sure you could even call Frank Haith solid. His final two ACC games, both in the [...]